Switch mechanism



Aug 16, 1932. l A. @Ram `swx'rcu MECHANISI L Filed sept. 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il] lll/11 l '111 11,111 1111111111111 l 4 AT'TORNEY 50' lating Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITEDY;STTES1 PAT-Elu' oF-FICE TBIC &

IANUFACTUBING COKPANYrL CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA y Application 111mlr September My invention relates to switchmechansms and particularly to switches of the type emloyed as main switches on current-distributing panelboards.

An object of my invention is to'provide a switch having a relatively high currentcarrying capacity and `one which may; be

ymounted in apanelboard housing of relatively shallow depth. i

lo Another object of my invention is to provide a panelboard main s 'tch wherein the contacts are disposed in the saine plane and wherein a minimum movement of the switch blades is required to open the circuit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a main switch having the above, notedy characteristics wherein the current-carrying'- and-interrupting capacity is increased by reason of the provision of means for interrupting the circuit of a plurality of ints and the provision` of arequenchingatea adja cent to the point of interruption.

Alyfurtherr object of my invention is vide a 4main switch fory panelboards having arcquenchin plates for each that are mounte block; y f

A furtherv object of myinvention is to provide a main switch for anelboards having a folding operating han le that may occupy a shallow betweenthe compartment and e front face of the panelboard housing during normal o switch and maybe unfold to'cxtend exteriorly of the housin-for operation of the switch toits open Van toits closed sition. These and other objects that will. made apparent 'throughout the further description o my invention are attained by means of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingy where` switch upon a .ione-piece Figure 1 is a top unit embodying features of my invention;

Fi 2 -s ay transverse `section throughav distri utingk paneland the switch shown in Ffig. 1, takenon the broken line I I--II thereo l Fig. 3 is a perspective view of'an" insublock which constitutes a mounting for I' `viewofa t handle shown in the base plate 16 servin to support about a central point on 1 cident with the axis of ywhich is pivotallymounted in a s ting secured 'to the base plate 16. The switch on ofthe 1 o cated y dotted lines in Fig..

' 'The s 'tch shaft 22 gib 28 that is fixed to t e1 i, ma sei-iai asesinas.

the arc-quenching plates shown in Figs. 1 and r2, and

Fig. 4 is a .toplplan view ofthe operating Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a sheet-metal housinl 5 having an opening 6 to be closed by a oor 7 that is hinged at-8 to a trim plate 9. The trim plate 9 is provided with inwardly directed flanges 12 that extend into en gement with a switch cover plate 13 whic serves to divide the housing into a switch compartment 14 and a compartment 15 for the operating handle of the main switch to be hereinafter described.

The/main switch comprises a metal base plate v16 that is'attached to the bottom or rear wall of the housing 5 by means of bolts 17,

thefinsulating switch contacty b ocks 18 upon which the stationary contact jaws 19 and r21 are mounted.

The blocks 18 "are spaced equidistantly the base that is cointhe switch shaft 22 ocket 23 'shaft 22 is provided with an insulating plate 24 upon which the switch arms 25 are mounted and which are diposed radially apart,A as indicated inf ig. 1. Each switch arm 25 comprises two blades 26 and 27 that are spaced apart at their free ends and are dispose in superim osed relation, indicated in Fig. 2, the bla es being so positioned that they are in the planes o the vspaces between the contact jaws 19 and 21, respectively, and constitute a' double blade for electrically connecting the contact jaws 19 and 21 when in operative engagement -with the jaws. The

nl 'tion of the switch arms are shown in their closed tions by the full lines.

is actuated throu the medium of a plate shaft and carries a crank pin 29 to which is pivotally connected a guide bar 31 that is supported 'by -a web 32 carried by the diaphragm k13and having an o ning 33 through e bar 31 reciprowhich the end of' the gui 25 is indi-` 1, and the arms cates A spring 34 serves to move the plate 28 to its o n and to its closed .position with a snap action when the end of the spring 34 as en moved over center.

The plate 28 is provided with an arcuate slot 35 for receiving a pin 36 carried by a saucer-like disc 37 in which handle 38 is secured. The disc 37 is rotatably mounted upon the outer end of *he shaft 22 which extends exteriorly of the diaphragm 13. There is thus rovided a lost-motion connection between tllie operating handle and the switch shaft 22, the arrangement being such that, when the operating handle is moved to either its open or its closed position, a predetermined distance, the spring 34 causes the switch to move to open or to closed position with a snap action.

Since the specific switch-operating mechanism form-s no part of my invention, it is unnecessary to more particularly describe it here.

In order to provide an operating handle b that shall be rea accessible when the door dil 7 1s open and which7 ma be operated from a point exteriorly of the housing, I have provided a hinged extension 39 that is of U-sha and is ivotally connected to the handle by a hinge bolt 41. In order to operate the switch, the hinge portion of the handle is moved to the broken-line position shown in Fig. 2. After the switch is operated, the portion 39 may be folded to the full-line position shown in Fig. 2 wherein closure of the goor 7 is permitted, as indicated in that gure.

By reason of the above described arran ment of the stationary contact jaws and t e switch blades, a full o ning movement of the switch may be made y moving the blades throu h an angle of 45, and the space require for the switch is reduced to a minimum.

In order to interrupt the circuit without drawing a destructive arc, I have provided arc-quenching plates for each bloc 42, the grooves being adapted to receive the adjacent edges of the barrier plates 48 that are preferably made of iron. The plates are retained in operative position on the block pe terrupted by a switc 42 by means of screws 49 that extend through the perforations in the corners of the plates, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the plates being indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3.

` are provided with slots 51 that extend inwardly from the free ends g thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2, and are registered with the spaces between the contact jaws and so positioned that the switch blades 26 and 27 ass through them when the blades are move Vto o n position.

e ends of t e switch jaws are pointed to cause final disenga ement of the blades therefrom at a point a 'acent to the base of the slots in order that tlJie arc incident to separal tion of the blades from the contact jaws may drawn at that The plates serve to cool the arc as it 1s drawn into the slots and readily extinguish it in the manner described a slngle-break switch blade and, consequently, currents of relative] large value may be inhavin relatively small dimensions. This form og construction is particularly well adapted for a switch where- 1n conditions and the space limitations necessitate a large-capacity switch within limited contines.

While I have illustrated ment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various cha 1. modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated wit out departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the ap claims.

claim as my invention:

1. A mounting for arc-quenching barrier plates comprising an insulating base having a central artition disposed substantially normal to t e base, the base and the partition being provided with spaced slots on opposite sides of the partition for receiving two adjacent edges ofthe barrier plates. i

2. A mounting for arc-quenching barrier plates comprising an insulating base having a central partition disposed substantially normal to t e base, the base and the partition being provided with spaced slots on opposite sides of the partition for receiving two adjacent edges of the .barrier plates and a bolt 190 extending through the base and the slots therein and passing through openin s in the corners of the plates for securing t e plates to the base.

3. A mounting for arc-quenching barrier plates comprising an insulating base having a central artition disposed substantially normal to t e base, the base and the partition being provided with spaced slots on opposite sides of the partition for receiving two ad- |30 but one embodiacent edges of the barrier plates, the said ase having means on one end for attaching it to a support.

4. A switch comprisin a housing having an opening in the iront ace thereof, a door for closing the opening, a rotary switch within the housing, a partition covering the switch and spaced from the front face of the housing, an operating shaft extending through the partition, and an operating handle for the switch having a hinged folding portion that may swing exteriorly of the housing through the opening for rendering it accessible for operation and which may be .l5 folded inwardly into the space between the said front face and the partition for permitting closure of the door.

5. A switch com risin a housing having an o ening in the ront acethereo a door for c osing the opening, a rotary switch within the housing, a partition covering the switch and spaced from the front face of the housin an operating shaft extending throng the partition substantially normal thereto, and an opera-ting handle for the switch having a hinged fo ding portion that v may swing exterorly of the housing through the opening for rendering it accessible or operation and may be folded inwardly into the s ace between the said front face and the partition for permitting closure of the door. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of August, 1929. ALFRED CORBETT. 

